In 1987 when Monica was two the Vienna Little League Fall Ball was very short on umpires so I decided to go to Umpire School so I could help out. Jim who was notoriously a challenge for the umpires to manage says “I never thought I’d be married to one”.
I caught Jim once in a game. He explains the signs for me:
I finally asked him, how do i give you the sign for a number 9. he said it doesn’t matter what sign you give me, they’ll all come in the same……
— Norm Gordon
When I was the VP of Falls Church/Annandale Babe Ruth Seniors, the folks at TJ took that field out of play to “do work” just as our season was starting. Since that was our primary field, this would have effectively ruined our season. I got a call from a guy named Jim Beck, who was then scheduling MSBL fields, who said that he’d move as many adult games as needed to accomodate the kids, because “they always come first.” He also went and put out some snow fencing to replace those taken down for the field work so that it would be safe for the kids to play.
Jim was a colorful, fun guy who loved the game and I enjoyed playing with him. What’s more, he showed a ton of class and concern for the kids and came through for those Babe Ruth players when they really needed it. May he have clear skies and a dry field to play many a game.
— James Villa
I also caught Jim a few times and he told me he had twelve pitches. And as we played those games I threw down every sign and today I still do not know what the differences were for each pitch because they all looked the same to me. But with this said, I also batted against Jim and was struck out on possibly the slowest pitch to possibly be thrown in a baseball game. After that I asked Jim what was the minimum speed required to throw a baseball 60 feet and 6 inches? Without hesitation he told me 36 mph.
Jim was such a good friend — back in 1998, he made room on his Falls Church Little League baseball team so that my then eight year old son Chris to play ‘Fall Ball’ when my local Dale City Little League said they no longer had a roster spot for him. Jim would do anything for anyone if you asked. And lastly, Jim played for the Prince William Reds in the 2001 Fall Classic and ended up throwing more innings than anyone on the team — we were in the 25 Division but Jim was 55 years old during that tournament.
Make those Rabbits Quack.
— Jack Holmes
Prince William Reds, 2012 DCMSBL Hall of Fame Inductee
One of my first games ever, (1990?) playing for Matt Carey: I was up, Matt was on deck, razzing Jim who was pitching…Jim came set, then spun and threw his best fastball straight at Matt… IN THE ON DECK CIRCLE!!
Years later, still with Matt: Nationals vs. Storm, Heater pitched 8 innings, we led 8-1 in the 40+ championship game. Matt wanted to pitch the 9th. Long story short: Jim rat-a-tat-tatted Matt the entire inning, causing Matt to implode and we lost 9-8. I can still hear rat-a-tat-tat in my sleep.
— Norm Gordon
My favorite Jim Beck memory dates back to the late 1990s when I first began playing in the 28+ league. I was our team’s catcher, and Jim would periodically pitch for us. Now, anyone who has seen Jimmy pitch knows that he relied less on “velocity” as he did on “guile.” But the first time I caught him was a treat.
After warming him up on the field, I ran out as I always did to ask him what pitches he had that day. He said,
“Well I’ve got a slow ball, a slower ball, an even slower ball, and a curveball.”
He had four pitches. Sounds good. So I go back behind the plate and start working him through his repertoire only to discover that they all pretty much looked the same coming in. Which was ok because an inning or two later it got too dark for him to see my signals, so he instructed me to “just hold your hand up so I can see what you’re calling.” Which he announced from the pitcher’s mound in the middle of an at-bat.
He was a character. He loved the game, he devoted so much of his time and energy to it. Our league and our lives are less enriched without him.
Todd Boss,
Jim Beck teammate with the DCMSBL Vienna Braves 1998-2007
Jim Beck and I go back to my second game as an MSBL player almost 30 years ago. I had just finished a game at Fairfax High School and Jim was the first person to come over to meet me and introduce himself. Over the years, Jim was an opponent at times, my teammate, my patient and my friend.
A couple of seasons later it was Jim who asked me to go to Arizona with his Eagles team. That was a great experience for me. The following season Jim suggested I manage the team, which led to my starting the Virginia Senators, a team we took to Arizona for many years. One year in Arizona with the VA Senators, I was coaching third. When Jim hit a triple, as he got to third he slumped down on the bag. I went to see if he was alright and he asked me to untie his right spike. I did as he asked thinking he was hurt. When I asked him if he was alright he said yes, I just need more time to catch my breath. I thought to myself, well that’s Jim and I hope I don’t get thrown out for untying his shoe.
Many years later, when I proposed starting the 55 division to the league, Jim was against it at first, but after hearing my reasons he became it’s biggest supporter. I think we would not have had this division without his support. I had surgery in 2006 and was barred from playing for 5 years. Jim was in my office the next year and told me he was sure I would come back to play as soon as I was cleared. He reminded me of the reasons I had expressed to him years before about why we needed a 55 division.
He said, as only he could, “you have to come back”. After his passing, I knew he was right, and thanks to my former teammates and their encouragement, I did make it back in 2011.
I’m sure that there are a lot of us whose life has been made a little better because we knew Jim. The true measure of a man’s life is not how rich you are but how much your life enriched others.
I am proud to be part of “the friends of Jim Beck”.
Arnie
Arnold S Fariello DDS